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Ronnie Campbell MP expenses panama hat confusion

Jun 28 2009 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

PUZZLED MP Ronnie Campbell was left scratching his head when he read in his Sunday Sun that he’d claimed on expenses for a Panama hat, as it was news to him.

The Blyth Valley MP went hunting for the summer headgear but couldn’t find one. His secretary eventually came to the rescue when they told him he’d actually claimed for . . . a MAT.

Ronnie called to say the Sunday Sun had mistaken an “M” for an “H” on his handwritten expenses form, published last week by the House of Commons, along with all other MPs’ claims.

The Panama “hat” claim formed part of a list of outlandish requests made by our region’s MPs, which also included Houghton and Washington East MP Fraser Kemp’s 37p claim for a spoon, and Sunderland North MP Bill Etherington’s £30.60 claim for doorknobs.

Receipts published online do indeed show the Labour MP bought a £39 “Panama mat, natural”, as well as a toilet pedestal mat, a face cloth and two towels which totalled £44.

The receipt was part of records which showed the former pitman, first elected to the House of Commons 22 years ago, had spent thousands kitting out his London pad, buying a leather sofa and pouffe, a quilt cover and bed sheet among many items.

Ronnie said: “I saw the article and looked high and low for a Panama hat, but I haven’t got one . . . I knew I didn’t have one.

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